Main menu

You are here

Richard E. Rench, May 3, 1941 - Nov. 3, 2008

Mar 3, 2015

MILAN

Richard E. Rench, 67, of Milan, died Monday evening, Nov. 3, 2008, in Akron City Hospital after a brief illness.

He was born May 3, 1941, in Findlay, Ohio, son of the late Harold E. and Geraldine (Dysinger) Rench. He was a 1959 graduate of Findlay Senior High School and attended The Ohio State University studying electrical engineering. He graduated with the 61st Academy Class of the Ohio State Highway Patrol on April 11, 1963. He was sent to many of the riots in Ohio during the 1960’s. He was a life scout and scoutmaster for many years of Norwalk Presbyterian Church Troop 232 and later cub master for several years of Milan Methodist Cub Scout Pack. He left the patrol in 1968, starting his own business, Rench Diversified, building over 300 homes and apartments in the Norwalk area. In 1968, he started Rench Realty. In 1971, he started Firelands Appraisal Company. Then, in 1982, he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, serving both Huron and Crawford counties in the legislature.

As a longtime sportsman, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association (NRA) in 1993. He was a life member of NRA, life member of Ohio Gun Collectors, and a life member of Ohio Rifle & Pistol Association. He was a longtime member of Sons of the American Revolution, with both sides of his family fighting in the American Revolutionary War in 1776.

Also, in 1993, Governor George Voinovich appointed him to Board of the Ohio Water Development Authority, a post he held for more than 17 years. Governor Taft and his wife, Hope, hosted his 50th birthday party in his home in Milan. He met many U.S. Presidents and other political figures and was quite proud of his “photograph wall” showing him with them. In 1973, he was named Milan Jaycee’s Man of the Year. He learned to fly when he was 15 years old and had his pilot’s license since he was 17 years old. In 1993, he started the Firelands Museum of Military History which quickly became known for their flying “Huey Helicopters” and appeared in many area parades.